Elisabete Cargnello is a French artist. Engaged in portraiture from an early age, her current project is the depiction of Asia Ramazan Antar, a Kurdish woman who died in 2016 while fighting the Islamic State group in Syria as part of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), aged just 19. Cargnello says her portrait pays tribute not just to the bravery of Antar, but to all Kurdish women fighters who have ‘sacrificed themselves so we could all be free.’ In this interview with Rudaw’s Hiwa Salih, she discusses her relationship with art, common themes in her work, and her solidarity with the Kurdish struggle. Rudaw: Can we learn a bit about Elisabete Cargnello? I was born in Paris in 1973, to Portuguese immigrant parents. I’ve been fascinated by art, by drawing in particular, since childhood. I started drawing early on life. My theme of preference was always portraits. I love to transpose the emotions of the people I paint [onto canvas]. Women have a very important place in my art, I love their sensuality. To me, they are beauty incarnate. What made you draw the portrait of a Kurdish woman fighter? I decided to do this portrait because I was really moved by the fight led by Kurdish women, their bravery, their determination to stay free and not be subjugated by the Islamic State. I was very sad to see Kurdish women and men abandoned not just by the US, but by Europe too, who were unable to come to their aid. I did this portrait to pay homage to them, especially to Asia Ramazan Antar who died so young and personifies courage to me. I don’t have any power, and unfortunately I can’t help the Kurds, but I can do something that means they aren’t forgotten. I will fix this woman’s face onto canvas permanently, so that everyone will know women sacrificed themselves so we could all be free. Do you know anything about who the Kurds are? I don’t know much about the Kurds. I know they are a people spread across multiple countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, also Syria. I also know that the Turkish president persecutes them, which I find deplorable. Do you have any plans to visit Kurdistan? I haven’t considered it, because the area is unfortunately very unstable and conflict there is frequent. In Europe’s eyes, Kurdistan is a battlefield. But if an independent Kurdish state ever sees the light of day, then yes, I’d gladly visit. Why do women and cars appear in most of your artwork? In the past, the theme of vintage cars and pin-ups wasn’t actually the most common in my work, but it’s that theme which has had the most success – that’s why it features often. Your portraits depict sexy women too. Why have you chosen to work on erotic portraits? Like I said, women personify beauty to me, and their bodies reflect that beauty – that’s why they’re at the forefront of my work. Do portrait artists make a living out of their work in France? Do you make money out of your work? An artist’s life is very complicated, as is managing to live off of art. Sometimes it’s a good year and I live well, but at other times it’s difficult – that’s why I also give drawing lessons, so that I can have a more stable income. Do you know anything about Kurdish portraiture? I know very little of Kurdish art. I discovered some recently thanks to the portrait I’m in the process of creating, which allowed me to interact with some Kurds and discover the exceptional work of some artists. What is your latest project? My latest project is the portrait of Asia Ramazan Antar, which I’ve yet to finish. I’m considering painting two other women fighters, one on either side of her. I hope to finish this piece before the end of December. What is your message to the people of Kurdistan? The message I want to give the Kurdish people is that they are exemplary, and that even if politicians here in Europe are not courageous, the people of France are grateful to them for the fight they have led. Interview by Hiwa Salih Translation by Shahla Omar
